Another AoO? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Another AoO? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Centor
10-26-07, 10:05 AM Last session one of my players and I got in a "Discussion" about whether or not he got and AoO on one of the badys. The board was like this the player in question was on the right of the enemy and another PC was in front of the enemy with its focus (it had attacked her last round). During the enemies turn he chose to attack this player because he was human and the bady was a Ranger Elf Werewolf in wolf form that favored enemy was human. The Players argument was that since the werewolf changed focus that provoked an attack of opportunity. I don’t think this is what the rule meant by changing focus from combat, but what the heck I’d give them this one, but I didn’t not that that this play would have received the AoO because the focus (thus defense) was shifted to him, the other PC however did get the AoO since now the wolf’s side was in front of her. So after this long explanation the question is was this technically correct? RAW. (and I know that I’m DM and what I say goes but I’d rather have the rules behind me) Or should this have not been an instance for AoO? Thanks, we have another session tonight and I want to settle this little dispute and move on to the game. Thanks again!!
Kragg Bonemeal
10-26-07, 10:19 AM I haven't heard of "change of focus" AoO. Unless you are playing some DnD variant, there is no "facing" in DnD, therefore unless the baddy:
1)moved out of the square
2)casts a spell
3)activates a spell completion item
4)makes a ranged attack
5)retrieves an item from the ground or backpack
6)etc, etc, etc from the table of "provokes AoO"

... then there isn't an AoO just for swinging at a different enemy next to you.

Caveat: This can always be changed if your PC has some PrC ability or something. But this is very specific wording in the PrC description.
DrMorganes
10-26-07, 10:26 AM Kragg's spot on here.

"Changing focus" does not mean attacking one opponent one round, then attacking a different opponent the next round. It means performing some action that takes your attention off combat entirely, if only for a moment. These actions are explicitly listed in this table (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) (Table: Standard Actions).
Centor
10-26-07, 10:46 AM Thanks, that is what I was thinking, I think the confusion came from the wording in the rules about AoO. I'm AFB but it states something along the lines of: Moving thru threatened squares or changing focus during combat. I think what he thought was focus means from one combatant to another and hence the argument. I'm pretty sure that it means shifting focus from combat in general to something on your person or that is in your personal space, like getting a potion or drinking it or generally not paying attention to what’s going on around you. I believe you are correct that just changing focus from on enemy to another with our moving away does not provoke an AoO. Please let me know if anyone has any more insight on this. Thanks again!:D
Marcus Majarra
10-26-07, 07:09 PM It has nothing to do with changing your focus. AoOs are provoked by two things, generally speaking:

1) Moving out of a threatened square.
2) Taking an action that is listed as provoking AoOs.
Frugal
10-29-07, 11:17 AM Thanks, that is what I was thinking, I think the confusion came from the wording in the rules about AoO. I'm AFB but it states something along the lines of: Moving thru threatened squares or changing focus during combat. I think what he thought was focus means from one combatant to another and hence the argument. I'm pretty sure that it means shifting focus from combat in general to something on your person or that is in your personal space, like getting a potion or drinking it or generally not paying attention to what’s going on around you. I believe you are correct that just changing focus from on enemy to another with our moving away does not provoke an AoO. Please let me know if anyone has any more insight on this. Thanks again!:D

I'm also away from my books but I thought the wording was "performing a distracting action" and then a listing of what those actions are.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Centor 10-26-07, 10:05 AM	Last session one of my players and I got in a "Discussion" about whether or not he got and AoO on one of the badys. The board was like this the player in question was on the right of the enemy and another PC was in front of the enemy with its focus (it had attacked her last round). During the enemies turn he chose to attack this player because he was human and the bady was a Ranger Elf Werewolf in wolf form that favored enemy was human. The Players argument was that since the werewolf changed focus that provoked an attack of opportunity. I don’t think this is what the rule meant by changing focus from combat, but what the heck I’d give them this one, but I didn’t not that that this play would have received the AoO because the focus (thus defense) was shifted to him, the other PC however did get the AoO since now the wolf’s side was in front of her. So after this long explanation the question is was this technically correct? RAW. (and I know that I’m DM and what I say goes but I’d rather have the rules behind me) Or should this have not been an instance for AoO? Thanks, we have another session tonight and I want to settle this little dispute and move on to the game. Thanks again!!
Kragg Bonemeal 10-26-07, 10:19 AM	I haven't heard of "change of focus" AoO. Unless you are playing some DnD variant, there is no "facing" in DnD, therefore unless the baddy: 1)moved out of the square 2)casts a spell 3)activates a spell completion item 4)makes a ranged attack 5)retrieves an item from the ground or backpack 6)etc, etc, etc from the table of "provokes AoO" ... then there isn't an AoO just for swinging at a different enemy next to you. Caveat: This can always be changed if your PC has some PrC ability or something. But this is very specific wording in the PrC description.
DrMorganes 10-26-07, 10:26 AM	Kragg's spot on here. "Changing focus" does not mean attacking one opponent one round, then attacking a different opponent the next round. It means performing some action that takes your attention off combat entirely, if only for a moment. These actions are explicitly listed in this table (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/combat/actionsInCombat.htm) (Table: Standard Actions).
Centor 10-26-07, 10:46 AM	Thanks, that is what I was thinking, I think the confusion came from the wording in the rules about AoO. I'm AFB but it states something along the lines of: Moving thru threatened squares or changing focus during combat. I think what he thought was focus means from one combatant to another and hence the argument. I'm pretty sure that it means shifting focus from combat in general to something on your person or that is in your personal space, like getting a potion or drinking it or generally not paying attention to what’s going on around you. I believe you are correct that just changing focus from on enemy to another with our moving away does not provoke an AoO. Please let me know if anyone has any more insight on this. Thanks again!:D
Marcus Majarra 10-26-07, 07:09 PM	It has nothing to do with changing your focus. AoOs are provoked by two things, generally speaking: 1) Moving out of a threatened square. 2) Taking an action that is listed as provoking AoOs.
Frugal 10-29-07, 11:17 AM	Thanks, that is what I was thinking, I think the confusion came from the wording in the rules about AoO. I'm AFB but it states something along the lines of: Moving thru threatened squares or changing focus during combat. I think what he thought was focus means from one combatant to another and hence the argument. I'm pretty sure that it means shifting focus from combat in general to something on your person or that is in your personal space, like getting a potion or drinking it or generally not paying attention to what’s going on around you. I believe you are correct that just changing focus from on enemy to another with our moving away does not provoke an AoO. Please let me know if anyone has any more insight on this. Thanks again!:D I'm also away from my books but I thought the wording was "performing a distracting action" and then a listing of what those actions are.